Ours is the Age of Feelings. Knowing little about the Constitution, or economics, or history, or human nature, or timeless, immutable principles, does not stop millions of Americans from having, sharing, and acting upon strong “feelings,” including voting.

Millions of adults today, when confronted with important public policy questions, base their choices on “feelings” they experience rather than any conclusions reached though the exercise of reason coupled with data, facts, and objective evidence.

Notice how often Americans mutter statements such as: “I just feel that everyone should have a right to health care” OR “I feel like regulations keep us safe” OR “I feel like the minimum wage should be higher” OR “I feel like government should manage the global environment.”

People who say such things rarely pause to ask questions such as:

What follows from the premise that everyone has a right to health care? Will government start to force some people to subsidize or provide health care to others?

Is there measurable evidence that regulations actually keep us safe?

What are the implications of raising the minimum wage? How many employees will be laid off because business owners cannot afford to pay higher wages?

If government bureaucrats are not good at running schools, fixing pot holes in roads, or solving the problem of poverty, why should anyone expect them to manage the entire environment or the global climate of Planet Earth?

To be clear, feelings and emotions are both real and important. We should not ignore them.

For example, if you get into a car with friends who are doing dangerous and irresponsible things they ought not be doing, and you feel very uncomfortable, you should pay attention to your feelings and ask to be let out of the car.

Or, if you are dating someone with whom you are not emotionally close, then probably the two of you should not marry each other.

Or, if you visit several colleges, and you really dislike one, then you probably should pick one of the others to attend after high school graduation.

Statements that begin with “I feel…” should be reserved for statements regarding your emotions or physical sensations. If you want to communicate that you’re hungry, for example, or your stomach hurts, or you’re grouchy and in a bad mood, then, please, begin your sentence with “I FEEL hungry” OR “I feel pain in my stomach” OR “I’m feeling grouchy today.”

The important thing to remember is that a feeling is different from a conclusion reached by an exercise of reason, or an informed opinion based on evidence, logic, and experience. In these instances, you might consider starting your sentence with “I think…” or even better, “Based on certain evidence, I have concluded X by reasoning that…”

An example of a statement that represents a conclusion and not a feeling: “I know that Abraham Lincoln was sworn in as President in 1861; I know he was assassinated in 1865; and I know that he was President when he gave the Gettysburg Address; I conclude, therefore, that he must have given the Gettysburg Address sometime between 1861 and 1865.” [It’s true: He gave his remarks at Gettysburg on November 19, 1863.]

Notice in the example above that the feelings of the author are irrelevant to the argument and conclusion. Whether the conclusion is true or false in no way depends on whether the author is joyful or sad, or what personal feelings the author has about Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War.